Lawyers have disclosed that there is a surprising development in the situation involving a young girl who was reportedly abducted in a style reminiscent of the movie ‘Taken’ and later rescued by her father from a boat.
During a statement outside the courthouse, the lawyer representing a 65-year-old individual who was arrested for the kidnapping connected to the incident mentioned that there are details that have not been made public yet.
Emmarae Gervasi, 14, mysteriously disappeared after getting into a car outside her home East Patchogue, Suffolk County, Long Island last month.
The girl’s father, Frank Gervasi, took matters into his own hands and, after an intense search lasting 26 days, managed to locate his daughter on a large boat close to the White Cap Fish Market and Seafood Restaurant in Islip, Long Island.
An anonymous phone tip allowed Frank to stage the miraculous rescue before even the cops could reach Emmarae.
Francis Buckheit, 65, was later arrested and charged with rape, kidnapping and acting in a manner injurous to a child in connection to the shocking case.
Police have not confirmed how Buckheit is linked to the case and the suspect pleaded not guilty.
However, her father Frank says she was sex-trafficked and plied with drugs by “unsavoury characters”.
Now, Buckheit’s attorney Danielle Papa has sparked speculation about the chain of events after suggesting to reporters that all is not as it seems.
Papa told the New York Post: “He [Buckheit] is emotional. He’s said he maintains his innocence.
“These are very serious charges, but as all individuals who are charged with crime, he deserves the presumption of innocence.
“He plans on fighting these charges as much as he can.”
And crucially, she said: ““There’s a lot more of a story than what’s being told.”
Frank revealed that his 14-year-old daughter had struggled with drug abuse in the past and was wearing a monitoring ankle bracelet when she got into a car with an unidentified man and disappeared from the family home.
He has described the conditions he alleges his daughter was being kept under during the 26 days she was missing.
He said: “She was not allowed to leave the boat unless she was escorted by somebody, and she was being forced to do things that a 14-year-old girl shouldn’t have to do.
“So I do believe this is sex-trafficking, and it’s being looked into.”
Frank also said he thought his daughter had initially gotten into the car with some she knew but claimed Emmarae was later taken by a “random” 65-year-old man, according to the New York Post.
He told The Post that the teenager had previously run away from home and experienced some “struggles” in her life.
The family said she had gone to pick up items from a Jeep outside their house and was not wearing shoes or a coat at the time.
Surveillance footage shows Emmarae knocking on doors at a Bohemia motel the day after she went missing, before disappearing again.
The motel was around 10 miles from where her dad would save her almost a month later.
The brave father revealed he was following up on his own leads and worked closely with the local Suffolk County Police Department.
“I fear that she is being held against her will,” he said at that time.
“I know she is with somebody and they are either convincing her to stay or won’t let her leave or worse she may be dead by now.”
Describing the moment he first saw his daughter again, Frank told News 12: “It was 26 days of hell. Seeing her alive in my arms, it was a gift from God.”
Recalling the key moment, the emotional dad added: “I can’t describe the feeling I had when I grabbed her.”
Emmarae’s mom Melissa Dervay also shared the enormous relief she felt when Emmarae was found.
“The moment I heard her voice and knew she was OK, I felt a weight lifted off my body,” she told Greater Long Island.
“I’ve been so tense for the past four weeks, quietly fighting a battle. Now, I’m elated,” she said.
Emmarae was rushed to hospital to recover after the horror ordeal and the case remains an active investigation.
The teen’s dad said that the “sweet” person who gave the tip was “afraid to go to the boat”.
Frank added: “The tip was because of all the social media and everything like that but this person was sweet enough to come forward and give me some information that did help save my daughters life.
“I just want to make everyone aware that they did an amazing job and also make sure the police department know they did an amazing job.”
Buckheit’s attorney said she is still trying to sort out the charges against her client.
“I’m going to have further conversations with him to find out what exactly it is that he is saying [happened],” the lawyer said outside court.
“The case is relatively new. We’re still conducting our investigation, and there’s a lot more work that needs to be done at this particular point.”
The Suffolk County Police Department has impounded a boat from a Long Island dock as evidence.
